The In campaign is already resorting to naughty tricks to get one over on the Outers. Guido has seen an email sent by the BSE press operation to members of Economists for Britain, a Eurosceptic group of economists. The scurrilous missive asks if they are “comfortable being associated” with the Vote Leave campaign, asking them to “get in touch” if not. It looks like a fishing expedition for a non-existent story about Vote Leave losing the support of economists.

My name is Will Cousins, and I work in the press office of Britain Stronger In Europe, the main cross-party organisation campaigning to keep Britain in the EU in the forthcoming referendum. I emailed you shortly before Christmas.

You are listed as a supporter of Economists for Britain, part of the Vote Leave campaign which wants Britain to come out of the EU.

I wondered if you were comfortable being associated with that campaign? Economists for Britain describes itself as giving “a voice to Britain’s economists who want to see fundamental changes made to the terms of our EU membership.” If it is your view that the EU requires fundamental change but that the answer is not for Britain to leave, do please get in touch.

Yours sincerely,

Will Cousins

Press Officer, Britain Stronger in Europe

Instead of the economists agreeing to give BSE ammunition, the email ended up in Guido’s inbox…

UPDATE: Vote Leave say:

“We are disappointed the BSE campaign have kicked off the new year with a dirty tricks campaign, rather than engaging in a positive debate.”